Label:
Fierce Panda
Release Date:
03/03/2003

Quite simply one of the best ideas to emerge in CD format for a very long time.
Many a DiS wine-tasting session has been ruined by torrid arguments along the
lines of "Who's your favourite UK Screamo/Emo/Post-Hardcore band then?".
Not very original I know, but there you go. But now such traumas can be averted
by having the pick of the bunch lined up on one 6 track EP for your own judgement.

thisGIRL's 'Ocean Of Thanks' offers a modern update of the grungy, quasi-psychedelic
riffing previously the forte of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam minus the sludgy
undertow. It's enveloping and dizzying, whilst keeping you on your big rock toes.
It is indeed, very very good. Funeral For A Friend are by far this Isle's
best exponents of screamo, somewhere where emo and metal dare to meet in dark
corners occupied by the mentally disturbed. In this CD competition, they do
hold a bit of an ace; 'Juno' is the best FFaF song I have ever heard.
In fact, it's the best rock song I've had the pleasure of warping my brain with
for a very long time. It's got histrionics, dynamics, rage and buckets of sullen,
accepting miserablism. Just about perfect then.

Engerica's 'Crooked Sex' is as fabulously fucked us as its title
suggests, all detuned bass hammering and pervaloid screams, making it sound
like an S&M Davros on crack. Oddly enough, it's the tune that fits in least
in this EP, making it stand out even more. With 'Coronary', **The Copperpot
Journals** are perhaps the most balls-in 'emo' of the bunch and offer wonderful
tuneage in a literate, guitar throttling, malleable maelstrom fashion. Yes.

Jarcrew have yet to recreate their intense spazmatazz live shows onto
melted vinyl to full affect and thusly 'Destructor/Creator' is a bit disappointing
after you've seen the crazed whites of their eyes in a sweaty North London/Welsh
hell hole. Million Dead are probably the most infant of the bands, but
possible the ones with the most panoramic vision. '_Reformulating The Challenge
to Archism_' (yes, very cool, I know) sounds like Bright Eyes on a 'shaft
yourself with a rock axe' course, if Conor Oberst understood the value of prog
in your hardcore. Very badly explained, I know, but hey, go see, have a listen.

So who wins the battle of the bands? At a canter, it's Funeral For A Friend. But to be fair,
they were cheating. I mean putting your BEST song on. That's just cheeky. And
thrilling. Close in the race are The Copperpot Journals, who haul their non-more-emo
ass into second and the rest run in together, chest out, over the rock school
sports-day line proudly joint-third.